Google Workspace CLI: a remote control for Gmail, Drive and Calendar

The free tool from the reel is googleworkspace/cli, a command called gws. It talks to Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Sheets, Docs, Chat and the other Workspace APIs, returns clean JSON, and ships 100+ agent skills so an AI agent like Claude Code can use it. It lives in Google's GitHub organisation, but the README says it is not an officially supported Google product.

CostFree and open source (Apache-2.0). The Google APIs it uses are free for normal personal use. Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan.

DoesOne command for Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Sheets, Docs, Chat, Admin and more. 100+ agent skills (SKILL.md files), including helpers like an unread-inbox summary, meeting prep, a standup report and 50 recipes such as finding a free meeting slot.

NeedsA Mac, Linux or Windows computer, a Google account, a Google Cloud project for the sign-in (the setup command can create it if you have the gcloud CLI), and an AI agent such as Claude Code if you want the AI part.

ProofAbout 31,700 stars and 2,000 forks on GitHub (checked 19 Oct 2026). Latest release v0.22.5 on 31 March 2026, no new release since.

Checked on 19 Oct 2026. Tools change fast, so the official page always wins if it says something different.

What you need first

1A Google accountPersonal Gmail works. Use a test account first if you can.

2A Google Cloud projectNeeded for the sign-in (OAuth). The setup command makes one for you if the gcloud CLI is installed, otherwise follow the README's manual setup.

3An AI agentClaude Code (paid Claude plan) or another agent that reads SKILL.md files.

Step by step

Install it

Easiest: npm install -g @googleworkspace/cli (needs Node.js 18+). On Mac you can also use brew install googleworkspace-cli, or download the file for your computer from the GitHub Releases page.

Run the setup

gws auth setup walks you through the Google Cloud project, turns on the APIs and logs you in. It needs the gcloud CLI; without it, use the README's "Manual OAuth setup" (create a Desktop OAuth client and add yourself as a test user).

Pick only the apps you need

Log in with just the services you want, for example gws auth login -s gmail,calendar,drive. The README warns the full preset (85+ scopes) fails for unverified apps, and fewer permissions is safer anyway.

Tip: Google may show "Google hasn't verified this app": that's your own test app, click Continue only if you created it yourself.

Test it

gws drive files list --params '{"pageSize": 5}' should list five of your Drive files. Add --dry-run to any command to preview it without changing anything.

Give your AI the skills

npx skills add https://github.com/googleworkspace/cli installs all the skills, or add just one, e.g. npx skills add https://github.com/googleworkspace/cli/tree/main/skills/gws-gmail.

Ask

In Claude Code try "summarise my unread emails", "prep me for my next meeting" or "find a free 30-minute slot this week". Read what it plans to do before you let it send, delete or share anything.

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The catch

Technical setup. The Google Cloud and OAuth part is the hard bit. Budget 20-30 minutes the first time.
Early version, no recent updates. It's v0.22 and the README says to expect breaking changes, and there hasn't been a release since 31 March 2026.
Not an official Google product. It sits in Google's GitHub organisation, but the README says it isn't officially supported.
It can touch real email and files. Give it the fewest permissions you can, start with read-only tasks, and check before it sends or deletes anything.

Official links

The repo on GitHub ↗The full skills list ↗

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